Heartbroken Mike Tyson Mourns Loss of Daughter

Exodus, 4, dies after tragic accident

Published Jul 14, 2009 at 3:07 AM

Receive the latest archive updates in your inbox

"There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," Tyson said in a statement.

Heartbroken former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson mourned the loss of his 4-year-old daughter who had been on life support since she strangled herself with an electrical cord at her mother's home in Phoenix on Monday.

Tyson and the girl's mother, Sol Xochitl, were at their young daughter's bedside at St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday where the child was pronounced dead, the New York Post reported.

"There are no words to describe the tragic loss of our beloved Exodus," Tyson said in a statement. "We ask you now to please respect our need at this very difficult time for privacy to grieve and try to help each other heal."

Little Exodus Tyson, who was on life support in critical condition at an Arizona hospital until Tuesday afternoon, was found by her 7-year-old brother on a treadmill with her neck wrapped in an electrical cord in the exercise room of their mother's home.

Several hours after Exodus died, Tyson drove Xochitl back to the house to pick up her car, the Post reported. Both parents were reported to be devastated by the loss of their little girl.

Tyson's former agent and friend Sig Rogich said it's every parent's worst fear to lose a child and called the accident a "tragic, tragic thing."

"Mike was very dedicated to that baby," Rogich told the Arizona Republic. "I think every parent's greatest fear is that they live beyond their children. I know Mike has had his troubles in his life, but he's always been a good father."

The tragic accident happened when Exodus' mother "was cleaning the house and said, 'Go get your sister,' and [her brother] came running back and said his sister was in distress, and then mom went and found her,'" Phoenix Police Sgt. Andy Hill said.

"It's just so tragic. ... [Exodus] was playing in the room, apparently by herself," Hill said.

The heartbreaking incident came just as Tyson began to stage a comeback outside of the ring in an attempt to reclaim his tarnished image.

Tyson, 42, was plagued by years of turmoil that played out on the public stage in a messy divorce, a rape conviction and his infamous disqualification from the sport for biting Evander Holyfield's ear during a 1997 match.

He retired from boxing in 2005 after years but had resurfaced recently to promote his documentary film "Tyson."

He told MTV News last month that he would give up his fame and fortune in a second for his family.

"I would give all that up, if it caused me losing what I have now: That little condo with my girlfriend and my daughter, and having a relationship with the rest of my kids," Tyson said.

The father dropped everything and rushed from Las Vegas to Phoenix to be at his daughter's bedside at St. Joseph's Hospital on Monday.

Brief footage from local TV station KTVK showed Tyson arriving at the hospital in a white button-up shirt and black pants, and looking around with a frown before going inside.

Hill said everything in the investigation pointed to an accident. "There's nothing in the investigation that revealed anything suspicious," he said.